Shepherding: Andy Stanley vs Scripture and James White

The difference between biblical teaching and anti-biblical teaching....


Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Psa 23:3  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Psa 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 


Joh 10:1  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 
Joh 10:2  "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 
Joh 10:3  "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 
Joh 10:4  "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 
Joh 10:5  "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 

1Pe 2:25  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 

Act 20:27  "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 
Act 20:28  "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 
Act 20:29  "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Act 20:30  and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Act 20:31  "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
Heb 13:21  equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

1Pe 5:1  Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
1Pe 5:2  shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 
1Pe 5:3  nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.


Andy Stanley who denies "shepherd" is a right term for pastors in his interview with "Leadership Journal":

There's nothing distinctly spiritual. I think a big problem in the church has been the dichotomy between spirituality and leadership. One of the criticisms I get is "Your church is so corporate." I read blogs all the time. Bloggers complain, "The pastor's like a CEO." And I say, "OK, you're right. Now, why is that a bad model?"

So what's the principle behind the CEO model?

"Follow me." Follow we never works. Ever. It's "follow me." God gives a man or a woman the gift of leadership. And any organization that has a point leader with accountability and freedom to use their gift will do well. Unfortunately in the church world, we're afraid of that. Has it been abused? Of course. But to abandon the model is silly.

Should we stop talking about pastors as "shepherds"?

Absolutely. That word needs to go away. Jesus talked about shepherds because there was one over there in a pasture he could point to. But to bring in that imagery today and say, "Pastor, you're the shepherd of the flock," no. I've never seen a flock. I've never spent five minutes with a shepherd. It was culturally relevant in the time of Jesus, but it's not culturally relevant any more.

Nothing works in our culture with that model except this sense of the gentle, pastoral care. Obviously that is a face of church ministry, but that's not leadership.

Isn't shepherd the biblical word for pastor?

It's the first-century word. If Jesus were here today, would he talk about shepherds? No. He would point to something that we all know, and we'd say, "Oh yeah, I know what that is." Jesus told Peter, the fisherman, to "feed my sheep," but he didn't say to the rest of them, "Go ye therefore into all the world and be shepherds and feed my sheep." By the time of the Book of Acts, the shepherd model is gone. It's about establishing elders and deacons and their qualifications. Shepherding doesn't seem to be the emphasis. Even when it was, it was cultural, an illustration of something.

What we have to do is identify the principle, which is that the leader is responsible for the care of the people he's been given. That I am to care for and equip the people in the organization to follow Jesus. But when we take the literal illustration and bring it into our culture, then people can make it anything they want because nobody knows much about it.

End quote.

Wow. How utterly wrong could Stanley be? "Shepherding" first of all, was established in a different culture and different millenium before Acts, starting in Genesis. In Acts, it is the establishment of the elders AS shepherds that Paul refers to interchangeably in Acts 20:28--a charge that was to continue, not discontinue. Moreover, the term and duties of shepherding continues even in 1Peter 5 which was written later than Acts. Additionally, shepherding and the Lamb of God, are both taught in the very last book of Scripture, the last words from God:

Rev 7:17  for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

James White on the hand, states the biblical role and duties of pastors and elders:


But the strongest argument I know regarding the biblical nature of church membership is probably the most obvious. What are the duties of elders? We can find their qualifications listed by Paul in writing to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-11)and from these glean much about their duties. And we have the plain statement of Peter,

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-3).

   The argument is simple: shepherds must know their sheep to be able to fulfill their duties as shepherds. Its just that simple. You cannot shepherd the flock of God when you havent a clue who the flock of God is. Every good shepherd knows his sheep. Only the hireling does not know the identity of the members of the flock. And, of course, the relationship is mutual. The sheep know their shepherd. They will not listen to anothers voice because they have been with the one shepherd so long they know his voice over against any pretenders or strangers. Such involves a relationship over time, just as the Christian elder is not to be a hireling, some young gun brought in from outside, but should be one who ideally fulfills the commandment of Paul, The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). The gospel is something that is precious, and you entrust it to the next generation. But it is the elders who make this decision, as they have to decide just who is truly faithful and who has the ability to teach others. All of this requires community, exposure, contact, once again demonstrating that the shepherd must have direct knowledge of the identity, personally, of the sheep who have been entrusted to his care. 

   Further, Peter speaks of exercising oversight. While we may discuss the exact nature of what this means (and allow for differences given culture and geography and the like) one thing is for certain: it cannot be done without a relationship of some kind that involves real life. Obviously, this involved teaching and exhortation and discipline on the part of the elder. He is to be an example. You cannot be an example from a distance. You cannot be an example through a television screen or through the pages of a book. Modeling Christian maturity takes contact, exposure, and a reciprocal relationship that involves at least some kind of personal, communal, corporate context. All of this proves that despite the lack of the specific term membership rolls(something that would have been pretty dangerous at that point in time anyway), the activities of the elders and the form of the church itself requires one to see the necessity of commitment to a particular fellowship identifiable by a particular group of elders. And if these texts were not enough, surely this command to all obedient Christians should be:

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17).

   Here the Christian duty of obedience and submission, coupled with a need to make this work on the part of the elders of the congregation one of joy rather than grief, is enjoined upon all. This is not a command to servility, nor does it grant to Christian leaders despotic powers. But it does require believers to know who their leaders are. It is empty to say, "Jesus is my leader!" for the writer to the Hebrews did not say your "Leader" but your "leaders," plural, and he would distinguish between them and the Great Shepherd only a few lines later (13:20). Nor does it do to claim to be in obedience and submission to men who do not see your face but once or twice a year. How can they give an account when they have no meaningful knowledge of your life, your Christian experience, your growth in godliness? How can they do so when you never attend upon their teaching or encounter them in the congregation? 

End quote.

If we take out "shepherd" from the role and duties of elders, then we must also remove " savage wolves" from the description of false teachers and the death and pain they cause. One then,  must also do away with following Christ, listening to His voice, have full dependence on Him for everything pertaining to life, and not recognize Him as the Great Shepherd and Good Shepherd. Its ironic that "pastor" Andy Stanley is proving to be a wolf while dismissing biblical shepherding which relies on the Great Shepherd. I find that a CEO model is one founded on money and employer-employee relationship, not owning the very people who merely show up to work 5 days a week. Its limited to the world and very temporary, after all, no employer owns a person nor does an employee work 24/7. I wonder if Stanley would also reject the slave-Master terms and relationship, since that too, is not part of our culture; it is in fact, very offensive to Americans because of our history of slavery. Yet slave-Master is one of the most important relationships reiterated throughout the New Testament (and conversely a slave to money or sin is described as being anti-Christ, being unregenerate--no one can have two masters). Jesus is called "Master" (aka "Lord") several hundred times because of the distinction of HIM as well as us: HE is owner and Master, commanding us, His slaves to do as He commands without question and rebellion, but gladly.

God is deliberate in choosing every word, jot, tittle, illustration, and analogy in Scripture to tell us about Himself as well as mankind in relation to who He is. To have such arrogance as to rip out the Shepherd/sheep relationship terms is to destroy Scripture and reject God's authority.

Hath God said? Yes He has. Stanley should realize he echoes the words of the ancient Serpent when he despises shepherding and following as Scripture proclaims.

"Wild At Heart": the false god of John Eldredge and his intergrationism

An excellent critique by Jim Harmon not only on Eldredge's "Wild At Heart" but at the psychoheresy of today's professing Christians. He gives Scripture its proper place as our sole authority for life and godliness, whereas Eldredge does not.

Excerpts of note:

Simply put, the psychologizing of faith is destroying the Christian mind. It is destroying Christian habits of thought because it is destroying the capacity to think about life in a Christian fashion — David F. Wells, No Place for Truth or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology?

Popularity aside, Wild at Heart is a notable example of the integration of secular ideas, theories, and practices with Scripture. As a result, clear Biblical teaching regarding the nature of man, how he should live, and how he changes is compromised, undermined, and obscured. This is not a reliable way of "Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul." At best, it’s like weaving through a minefield. Fortunately, the mines are on the surface. Unfortunately, many readers will not recognize them for what they are. We give it no stars.

The basic problem with Christians accepting these secular ideas, though popular throughout society, is that these ideas fundamentally do not illuminate or harmonize with Scripture. Rather, they tend to intrude upon it and meddle with it, usurping that which belongs to God. The authors of such ideas were unbelievers, men who had no regard for God or the Bible. Their work has spawned a multitude of differing theories and techniques. Theirs is a man-centered perspective that typically is based on what man thinks and says about himself. In addition, psychological counseling theory, like evolutionary theory, remains in flux; new ideas and theories continually emerge. Biblical truth is God-centered and confronts man with specific, unchanging facts of life (Matt. 4:4; John 17:17).

And after years of hearing the heart-cry of women, I am convinced beyond a doubt of this: God wants to be loved. He wants to be a priority to someone….the cry of God’s heart is, "Why won’t you choose Me?" ~ Eldredge

End quote.

In my view, Eldredge's god is an Open Theist god, an effeminate impotent god,  unlike what Eldredge says men are supposed to be. At best Eldredge's god is a reflection of mere man, not the HOLY HOLY HOLY God of Scripture Who alone is all powerful. In fact Eldredge's god sounds more like a teenage drama queen who can't understand why nobody likes him and just wishes he could be A priority to someone out there. Forget about being THE priority, nor the absolute authority and power of the God of Scripture which states:

Eph 1:11  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12  to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 

Rejecting What is Lifeless: sometimes that includes books

I reject many authors who have not stood firm for Christ but rather compromise the Truth. What Pink says is very true:


To turn away from the lifeless preachers and publishers of the day—may involve a real cross. Your motives will be misconstrued, your words perverted, and your actions misinterpreted. The sharp arrows of false report will be directed against you. You will be called proud and self-righteous, because you refuse to fellowship empty professors. You will be termed censorious and bitter—if you condemn in plain speech—the subtle delusions of Satan. You will be dubbed narrow-minded and uncharitable, because you refuse to join in singing the praises of the "great" and "popular" men of the day. More and more, you will be made to painfully realize—that the path which leads unto eternal life is "narrow" and that FEW there are who find it. May the Lord be pleased to grant unto each of us—the hearing ear and obedient heart! "Take heed what you hear" and read!

~ A.W. Pink

Wayne Grudem: the vessel through which many "Christian leaders" accept subjectivism and not Sola Scriptura

Confirming my concerns about Wayne Grudem on Evangelicans accepting Charismaticism:

Discernment and Revelation

February/March 2013 - Volume 19, Issue 1

Gary Gilley writes,

Quote:

From a more doctrinal base we turn to theologian Wayne Grudem, who has had a massive impact on the evangelical world concerning modern prophecies. Grudem has written the definitive book on the subject, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, in which he claims that church age prophecy is different than Old Testament prophecy. While the Old Testament prophet was held to the standard of infallibility when speaking a word from the Lord (Deut 18:20-24), prophecies beginning with Pentecost are fallible and imperfect. He writes, “Prophecy in ordinary New Testament churches was not equal to Scripture in authority, but simply a very human—and sometimes partially mistaken—report of something the Holy Spirit brought to someone’s mind.” [17] Modern prophecy then is impure and imperfect. By way of example and documentation Grudem quotes the Anglican charismatic leaders Dennis and Rita Bennet who claim,

We are not expected to accept every word spoken through the gifts of utterance…but we are only to accept what is quickened to us by the Holy Spirit and is in agreement with the Bible…one manifestation may be 75% God, but 25% the person’s own thoughts. We must discern between the two. [18]

One of the most disconcerting aspects of Grudem’s position is his uncertainty as to how we can distinguish between our own thoughts and those supposedly from God. This is such an important and disturbing feature of the conservative continuationist’s system that I will quote Grudem at length....

When we contrast Grudem’s view of prophecy with Scripture we find nothing remotely resembling what Grudem teaches. Nowhere in the Bible is one receiving a message from God left to wonder if God is speaking to him (with the temporary exception of the young boy Samuel). No one had to ask if what they were hearing “seemed like” the Holy Spirit or matched previous subjective experiences that also “seemed like” the Holy Spirit. They knew without question when God was speaking to them. This is essentially the same teaching that Dallas Willard exerts in Hearing God: “How can you be sure God is speaking to you? The answer is that we learn by experience.” [21] Therefore subjective experience becomes the test of authority concerning revelation from God. This is a far cry from what we find in Scripture.

The second half of Grudem’s quote moves into the realm of the incredible. After 2000 years of church history, the best this world-class theologian can offer is that “over time a congregation would probably become more adept at making evaluations of prophecies…” This is a statement of speculation and hope that at some point the church will begin to figure out when a word of revelation is actually coming from the Holy Spirit and when it is the imagination of the speaker.

End quote. Please go here for the full article.

Notice that Charismaticism, because it denies Scripture alone for authority, also embrace feminism, as Grudem quotes Anglican (not Christian) Charismatic leaders. This is also why Piper, Driscoll, Keller, and Moore easily also accept women teaching men in the assemblying of believers, against Scripture's prohibition.

As A.W. Pink has stated:

Some of God's dear people may suppose that it would be presumptuous to set themselves up as judges of what they hear or read—but that is a serious mistake, being both a false humility, and a shirking of duty. The Apostle rebuked the Hebrews because their senses (spiritual faculties) were not developed so as to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13). With as much reason, might it be termed pride for anyone to pass judgment upon the groceries or meats purchased from the stores. Others may ask, "But how are simple and unlearned souls to distinguish between the different religious publications of the day?" Very simply: in sampling your natural food how do you determine whether or not it be seasoned? By your natural taste, of course. So it is spiritually: the "new man" has a palate too! If the God of creation has given us natural palates for the purpose of distinguishing between wholesome and unwholesome food, the God of grace has furnished His people with a capacity, a spiritual sense, to distinguish between nutritious and unwholesome soul food.

"Just as the mouth tastes food—the ear tests the words it hears" (Job 34:3). Does yours, my reader? Are you as careful about what you take into your mind—as what you take into your stomach? You certainly ought to be, for the former is even more important than the latter. 

It is often a long time before God's children are able to account for this. They blame themselves; they are exceedingly loath to say, "This message is not of God." They are afraid to act in the spiritual, as they do in the natural, and condemn and discard that which is worthless. While they feel a lack of power in the sermons they hear, or the articles they read, and while their souls steadily get dried up like a potsherd—they are slow to realize that this is the inevitable effect of the unctionless preaching they listen to, or the unctionless literature they read; and that such dryness and leanness of soul is inevitable—by their association with unhumbled and empty professors. But in due time God opens their eyes, and they see through the flimsy veil and discover that both the sermons they hear, and the literature they read—are only the product of a dead profession!

"Take heed what you hear" and read! More than forty years ago the saintly Adolph Saphir wrote, "I think the fewer books we read—the better. It is like times of cholera, when we should only drink filtered water." What would he say if he were on earth today and glanced over the deadly poison sent forth by the heterodox, and the lifeless rubbish put out by the orthodox? Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul, cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless, unctionless, powerless, no matter what prominent or popular name be attached thereto. Life is too short to waste valuable time on that which does not profit. Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books, booklets, and magazines now being published, are not worth the paper on which they are printed!

To turn away from the lifeless preachers and publishers of the day—may involve a real cross. Your motives will be misconstrued, your words perverted, and your actions misinterpreted. The sharp arrows of false report will be directed against you. You will be called proud and self-righteous, because you refuse to fellowship empty professors. You will be termed censorious and bitter—if you condemn in plain speech—the subtle delusions of Satan. You will be dubbed narrow-minded and uncharitable, because you refuse to join in singing the praises of the "great" and "popular" men of the day. More and more, you will be made to painfully realize—that the path which leads unto eternal life is "narrow" and that FEW there are who find it. May the Lord be pleased to grant unto each of us—the hearing ear and obedient heart! "Take heed what you hear" and read!

Abolishing Abortion

We'll never abolish abortion until CHRISTIANS (the supposed moral people in our society) see it as murder in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE without qualification. If "Christians" are double-minded on murder, then we cannot expect the world to be any different.

Good article on this by Tony Miano. 

Frank Turk Undone: Why Presuppositional Apologetics is Biblical and Proves Turk Denies T in TULIP

Exposing Frank Turk for his unbiblical views and behavior, but also showing why presuppositional apologetics is biblical. 

I believe Turk represents the New Calvinists in that he's very ungracious, harsh (name calling with snotty remarks), and appeals to the fallen mind of man, thus denying in practice what he claims in slogan: total depravity. In fact, his anti-PA stand bears this out very clearly. Turk (as many of today's Reformers do), don't believe man's intellect is as fallen as the rest of himself; that is, to use their often-used mantra, man's mind really DOES have an island of righteousness that isn't tainted with and dead in its sins. No, rather, man's intellect is neutral. This is contrary to all of Scripture, not the least of which is Romans 3:10-18, Eph. 2:1-4, 1Cor. 2:14, and Romans 8:


Rom 8:6  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Total Depravity of TULIP is rejected in practice by Turk.

Quote:

Turk makes the same mistake when he tries to explain his view via the example of Margaret Sanger. Yes, he admits, she was a racist by modern views, but her demonic agenda was rooted in the education and science of her day, as well as a genuine experience and genuine concern for the poor. Thus, approaching her from the position of a preacher preaching sin and the Word of God would not have gained the moral high-ground. Her motives (something right up there is emotives) were too lofty and pure....[quotes and footnotes given and a right rebuke with Scripture ~Denise]

So when Turk says,

So you will excuse me if, on that basis, I will ask the presuppositionalist to stay out of it. He’s most of the way out of it already anyway.  If he wants to get involved, he should start where the person in question actually is rather than where he would rather they be.

I can’t think of a more theologically ignorant thing to say (except for another I will show you in a moment). And honestly, I don’t think Turk even realized the full extent of what he was saying. PA and only PA among apologetic approaches begins where the person actually is: morally depraved and rebellious before God. Whatever intellectual or emotional deceptions they have embraced in the process of suppressing the truth of God (Rom. 1:18), we know that the real problem is the fallenness and rebellion against God. The rest is just a symptom. Turk is thinking only in terms of the intellectual starting point of the discussion (and apparently a very limited experience of it at that). ...

But this is not how PA rolls. On the contrary, PA can begin at any starting point in any conversation, because there is not a single human thought or idea that falls outside the rule of God’s Word. But it is only that Word that will ultimately grind hearts and bust the power of those emotional narratives.

Turk, on the other hand, demands we simply present statistics and facts to the woman who is about to abort her child...

Now you tell me: what is most likely to change any human being’s mind on any issue at any crisis moment? What is the single most powerful force of communication with depraved, non-reasoning, emotion-driven people? Statistics pulled from Freakanomics.com? Notes from a Gallup poll? The majority opinions of atheistic doctors? Or, perhaps, the Spirit-empowered Word of God? What is going to create that pause, if anything? I will place my bet on the pronouncement of God’s Word any day, be it unpopular, considered unscientific, out of place, in bad taste, demeaned by other Christians, or whatever, for the situation. It will come in different styles and approaches depending upon the persons and settings, but nothing can penetrate the veils of various emotive nonsenses like God’s Word and Spirit—and that is not only as presuppositional as it comes, but only presuppositionalism goes there.

End quote.

Read the whole article because it also explains further about presuppositional apologetics. 

Really what most of today's Reformers do, as perfectly illustrated by Frank Turk, is that they believe that not only is the mind unaffected by the Fall, but that its not the same as the heart. They will readily agree with Jeremiah that the heart is desperate wicked, then turn around when talking about doctrine or dealing with abortion (as mentioned in the quote above) or other issues and think the  mind can be convinced by statistics, information, and logical argumentation (ironically Turk lacks logic as do most Reformers who demand everyone else must abide by logic rules except for themselves). Scripture makes it clear that the heart = the mind, and the mind=the heart. They are used interchangeably throughout Scripture.

Mat 22:37  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

Christopher Dorner: the flames of the cabin burning cannot be compared to the eternal flames of Hell

From Airo:

Yet, however you may picture Dorner perishing in the flames, and what the roaring flames would feel like as they engulfed him, it fails in comparison to what Dorner is feeling now if he died as a murderer. Matthew 13:42 calls it a furnace of fire. Other NT Scriptures refer to it as a lake of fire. While others refer to it as the blackness of darkness. Yet, these are only depictions of the reality of what hell really is. They do not exceed the reality of hell, but are only faint images and shadows of the true torments of hell. As Jonathan Edwards says,

we find everything that gives an idea of an extreme misery is used to set forth hell torments because no one is sufficient to express it.

Dorner, if a dead murderer, is facing that reality now. He has found ultimate justice in the hands of the Living God. The experience of Dorner is dreadful. Eternally dreadful. He has begun drinking the bottemless cup of the Lord that is filled with the foaming wine of His terrible wrath, and Dorner will drink it down to the dregs (Psalm 75:8).

~Source for full article

Christians Hinder the Work of God

The Churches Are the Mission Field Today

Rules of Possession

The world according to liberals, socialists, communists, and basically Obama's administration.

Why I Homeschool

Peace in His Lordship

"But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord." In the light of its setting, this means, first of all, to let the awe of the lordship of Christ possess your hearts. Dwell constantly on the fact that Christ is Lord. Because He is Lord, all power in heaven and earth is His; therefore He is Master of every situation, sufficient for every emergency, able to supply every need. When a Christian trembles in the presence of his enemies, it is because he doubts or has lost sight of the faithfulness and power of Christ.

"But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord." The motive for obeying this precept should not be our own peace and comfort, but His honor and glory. To guard against the feat of man, the saint is to cultivate the fear of the Lord, that Christ may be magnified.

~AW Pink

Making Disciples

Excerpts:

Jesus’ words emphasize not the moment of salvation but the lifetime of sanctification that follows. He made the same point in John 8:31 when He said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” It’s the difference between a one-time profession of faith and a lifetime of spiritual growth and increasing godliness—between counterfeit and genuine conversion.

How can you stress the vital importance of sanctification when you’re aggressively chasing the trends and interests of a spiritually bankrupt world?

As defined by Christ’s command to His disciples, the purpose of the church is to make learning believers—men and women whose lives reflect a deep commitment to and love for the Lord, His Word, and His people. Are you actively helping your congregation grow in this clear and critical purpose for the church?

~ John MacArthur 

Driscoll Affirms Heretic Joel Osteen as a Brother in Christ and as a Victim of His Reformed Brothers

According to the 'Christian'Post:

In a recent interview with The Gospel Coalition, the Mars Hill Church pastor was asked to comment on a segment of his new book, Who Do You Think You Are?, that mentions "appreciated people" who "exchange grumbling for praying, competing for celebrating, bitterness for thankfulness, performing for serving, and boasting for encouraging."

The interviewer, TGC's associate editor Matt Smethurst, asked Driscoll, "What's an 'appreciated person'? Isn't that what Joel Osteen wants me to be?"

"I am aware of the theological differences that exist between our tribe and Pastor Joel," Driscoll responded. "I also know my Reformed brothers like to treat Pastor Joel like a pinata, but there are worse things than being happy and encouraging at a time when the most common prescription medications are antidepressants."

Driscoll made the same reference to the common use of antidepressants in his 2007 multipart sermon series "The Rebel's Guide to Joy," in which he mentions in part one Osteen's preaching of the Gospel, which has been labeled by some as a prosperity, or health and wealth, message.

More at The "Gospel" Coalition.

Apparently Driscoll has a new book coming out in 2013.

Trials

‎"All trials are for two purposes, that we may be better acquainted with our own wicked hearts and that we may be better acquainted with our own beloved Savior." 

~ George Whitfield

Seventh Day Adventist's La Sierra University Names Economics Center After Abortionist (Murderer)

LifeSiteNews reports:"Riverside, California, January 16, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Seventh-day Adventist website ADvindicate has recently drawn attention to the fact that La Sierra University has named a new economics centre after abortionist and gambling magnate Edward C. Allred, who in 1980 claimed to have personally aborted a quarter of a million babies in twelve years."

~ For the entire article go here.

Go here for information of why the SDA is not a biblical Christian church.

Also the SDA error on salvation.

SDA's Ellen White Vs. Scripture.

If You Are Going Through A Trial, Look UP!

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame!" Hebrews 12:2

"In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will order my prayer to You and look up!" Psalm 5:3

This is a wonderful secret which all of us ought to learn: We should not think so much about the toil and hardness of the way--but to look beyond to the brightness of the end! It does not matter how rough the road is--if only it brings us HOME at last!

Many of us go worrying all through this life, keeping our eyes always downcast on the path we are treading. We see all the troubles, the difficulties, and discouragements--but we never raise our eyes to see the joys and the eternal blessings which are waiting for us. We ought to learn this life-secret, which made Christ look past the shame and sorrow of His cross--and see the glory beyond. Learn to look up toward Heaven! Think of its joys and its blessedness--until earth's trials shall melt away in the brightness, and its griefs and losses are forgotten in the hopes of eternal glory!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition--into the likeness of His glorious body!" Philippians 3:20-21

~JR Miller 

Sound Conversion and Growth In Grace

“Just as the sinner's despair of any hope from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer's growth in grace.”

 - A. W. Pink

Is Jesus the Lord of Your Mind or is Contemporary Thought?

‎"My thinking, if I believe that Jesus is the Lord, must be governed entirely by the Bible. In other words, I am not governed by modern thought. If I am governed by that, then Jesus is not the Lord of my intellect. So I cannot be governed by modern thought or by recent knowledge or by the latest discoveries of science. The moment I begin to be governed by those things, then Jesus is no longer Lord to me. I am putting myself in a superior position. I am making myself the lord."

~Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Romans - Saving Faith)


Col 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 

3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

4  I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 

Col 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

 2Co 10:5  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Rom 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Crazy Love, Not A Fan, and Radical: books to be aware of

Some serious issues with "Crazy Love", "Not A Fan", and "Radical" books.

"The Harbinger" : another book to be aware of

A book to be warned about: The Harbinger. Apprising Ministries takes a look at the problems with its author and the book.

Beware of the book "Jesus Calling"

Watch out for "Jesus Calling" book! Not good at all! Here is a good article on the book, along with links following the article for more information.

Are You Sure You Are Saved?

‎"Beware, I pray thee, of presuming that thou art saved. If thy heart be renewed, if thou shalt hate the things that thou didst once love, and love the things that thou didst once hate; if thou hast really repented; if there be a thorough change of mind in thee; if thou be born again, then hast thou reason to rejoice: but if there be no vital change, no inward godliness; if there be no love to God, no prayer, no work of the Holy Spirit, then thy saying "I am saved" is but thine own assertion, and it may delude, but it will not deliver thee."

- Charles Spurgeon

You believe in the inspiration of Scripture, but do you believe in the SUFFICIENCY of Scripture?

God’s Word is true. And if something does not line up with God’s Word, it is not true. And it is not additional truth. 

You see, many of you... let me ask you a question. You would possibly say, “Yes, brother Paul, I believe in the inspiration of Scripture. I am a conservative Christian. I believe in the inspiration of Scripture, that Scripture was God breathed, that it is infallible, inerrant. It is a faithful communication of God’s truth. 

Ok. You believe in the inspiration of Scripture. You have only won half the battle. Here is the next question. But do you believe in the sufficiency of Scripture? Do you believe that the Scripture is sufficient to make the man of God adequate for every good work or does the man of God also need Freud, Skinner, Rogers and everything else in order to counsel God’s people, in order to train God’s people? 

You see, this is what Scripture is saying. This is what it is saying. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Every good work that needs to be done in the body, every good work, the Scripture can adequately prepare us for that. Everything the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter one, 2 Peter chapter one, everything that we need for life and godliness has been granted to us. 

Everything we need to direct our marriages have been granted to us in this book. Everything we need to raise our children have been granted to us in this book. It is found there. It is. You have to make a decision. Do you want a biblical church or do you want a halfway biblical church?

~Paul Washer

This is exactly what I believe and what every biblical Christian must believe. 

ONLY in Christ Jesus is the treasure of all wisdom and knowledge--nowhere else:

Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 

Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Col 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 

Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 

Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Homeschooled kids don’t lack socialization . . . but socialism.

On home schooling

Excerpts from Forbes, by Bill Flax :

J. Gresham Machen, the foremost defender of fundamentalism in the modernist controversy of the past century, also led the battle against compulsory public education. A fierce libertarian, Machen cautioned, “If you give the bureaucrats the children, you might as well give them everything else as well.”

We have. See election 2012.

Unless socialization means sassing their parents, as confirmed by Dr. Larry Shyers, homeschooled children exhibit significantly less behavioral problems than other students. Public schools nurture self-esteem. Homeschooling cultivates character allowing children to flourish into responsible citizens. Moreover, Dr. Ray concludes adults taught at home retained their parent’s worldviews far more frequently than peers. Students learning at home absorb much less liberal cant.

Homeschooled kids don’t lack socialization . . . but socialism.

Some parents simply prioritize getting our children into Heaven over getting them into Harvard. Forging godly character, precept upon precept, surpasses SAT scores in importance. But homeschooled children suffer no discernible academic handicap.

It’s not only national spelling bees and similar competitions where homeschooled students have become a force. Studies consistently have homeschooled students scoring 15-30 points above national averages. A recent survey by Brian Ray covering 11,739 students showed homeschooled children tested at the 86^th percentile. These stellar results held for boys and girls; all incomes; whether or not the parent had teacher credentials; whether their budget was above or below $600; and the amount of state regulation.

End quote. Go here for the entire article.

Atonement

‎"The extent of the atonement is defined by the intent of the atonement." 

~Steve Lawson

Using Children to Get Agenda Accepted

Infowars.com
January 16, 2013

Obama’s shameless exploitation of children as set pieces is hardly new or original. In fact, tyrants and dictators have used kids as props down through the ages.

Here are a few more recent examples....

Go here for the photos. 

Friendship Gives No Discernment

A personal acquaintance with a famous teacher doesn't give anymore discernment than a third party. In fact, most will defend their "friend" although in grave error, giving the little caveat of not agreeing 100% with what he teaches (as if that's ever possible). What gives discernment is the Spirit of Truth, through training in the Word of Truth. The closer a person is to someone in error, the less inclined they are to confront him. Especially if they are famous.

Do Not Pamper The "Converted" Who Is Still In Love With His Sin

“If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord’s will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” 

~CH Spurgeon

New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)

Here is what I'm learning about NAR....

New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a Word of Faith/Pentecostal/Latter Rain movement that seeks to take dominion over the world by getting a majority of people to have a particular worldview. As herescope reports:


"Using a marketing model, [Peter] Wagner said he is looking for a critical mass in the pervasiveness of the "Christian faith," and for a key placement of individuals to "influence" society as an indicator of kingdom growth:

We believe that through the Christian faith, the blessings of heaven will come down upon whatever people accepts that. Now, that doesn't mean every Japanese has to become a Christian. But that means that the Christian faith - we're looking for the Christian faith to grow in Japan to a point where it has some influence on society, which right now it doesn't. 

[all emphases added]"

NAR and Wagner and its leaders (see the list at Sola Sisters) deny the absolute sufficiency and authority of Scripture. They believe that by influencing every area (as they see it) of society, it will bring Jesus down to earth (hence their "7 Mountains" of influence they seek to take dominion over including politics (think Rick Perry)).

As Sola Sisters point out:

The NAR teaches that, through the advancement of medicine, science, technology and the gospel, this world is getting better and better. That through strategically "capturing" each of the designated "mountains," we will set up Jesus' earthly kingdom, and that once we have accomplished this, Jesus will return as the glittering jewel in the crown of his earthly kingdom. But is this true? Is this what the Bible teaches? Let us let Scripture lead us on the matter of Jesus' kingdom:

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'" (John 18:36, my emphasis)

End quote.

According to Herescope, in an interview on NPR, Peter Wagner now rejects the Rapture and the Tribulation. Instead they hold to the wrong and unbiblical notion that things in this world will be getting better, not worse. This goes against entire chapters and books in Scripture like Jude, 2 Peter 2-3, 2Thes. 2; various portions of Isaiah,  and of course, Revelation.


2Ti 3:1  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2Ti 3:2  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
2Ti 3:4  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5  holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

2Ti 3:12  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13  But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

2Pe 3:5  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
2Pe 3:6  through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
2Pe 3:7  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

2Pe 3:11  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 
2Pe 3:12  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 

Herescope says:

Wagner's eschatology is also based on marketing's "critical mass" theory -- he believes that when they (his NAR) "restore" this "kingdom" and enforce "his will be done on earth" that then the paradigm will shift. He says "when that happens enough, Jesus will return."

This is parallel to the esoteric (New Age) idea that there will be a cosmic spiritual shift where man becomes a co-creator in his own destiny, and a co-redeemer of the planet earth...


In a recent report by Sandy Simpson of the Apologetic Coordination Team, titled "A Tale Of Two Kingdoms," he explains the paradigm shift of Wagner's kingdom social gospel :

Biblical Christians need to understand that many of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Emergent Church, Church Growth, Word of Faith and other related movements are operating under a paradigm shift.  Because of that when they use the word "kingdom" they do not have the same biblical concept of that word that biblical Christians do.


End quote.

More about Dominionism (along with links to names like Tim Keller, Leonard Sweet, and David Barton) here. 

Another concern is the occult aspect of this movement (think: personal psychic readings aka "personal prophetic word"), along with the "signs", "wonders", "prophets", "apostles" and their "authority" over people not in their own churches.

Psych Drugs and Violence

Here's a report about the under-reporting of psychotropic drugs and the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, along with several other similiar murders connected with these drugs.


"But where, I’d like to ask my colleagues in the media, is the reporting about the psychiatric medications the perpetrator – who had been under treatment for mental-health problems – may have been taking? After all, Mark and Louise Tambascio, family friends of the shooter and his mother, were interviewed on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” during which Louise Tambascio told correspondent Scott Pelley: “I know he was on medication and everything, but she homeschooled him at home cause he couldn’t deal with the school classes sometimes, so she just homeschooled Adam at home. And that was her life.” And here, Tambascio tells ABC News, “I knew he was on medication, but that’s all I know.”"

~More at Worldnetdaily

The writer goes on and lists eleven shootings where the shooter was either on psych drugs or just coming off of them.

Its time to stop the drugging of the minds of people and to get away from psychiatry and psychology--none of which is helpful nor beneficial, but most definitely harmful, the MOST of which is spiritually. The ONLY solution for one's most severest problems with the mind/heart/emotions/life IS Jesus Christ and His Gospel. He who is Creator and has revealed the Truth to us in Scripture, has told us what the truth is about our disposition, sin, failures, and its results and destiny. He also has revealed the solution, the healing, the comfort and the peace for those who humbly come to Him on His terms, understanding their total depravity and  His deity and that He alone is the ONLY Way, Truth, and Life and that outside of Him there is no hope, no God, no way to the Father, no eternal life, no solution to life's problems.

Piper Denounces Prosperity Teachers on Sunday and Shares the Platform With Them That Week

"Christian"Post reports:

""If you entice people with wealth, ... ease, health, chipper, bouncy, light-hearted, playful, superficial banter in your worship service posing as joy in Christ, you will attract people, oh yeah, you can grow a huge church that way. But Christ will not be seen in his glory and the Christian life will not be seen as the calvary road that it is," said Piper on Sunday."

However, the following week John Piper spoke at Passion 2013 that offered Charismatic/WOF teachers and one of their bands, "Jesus" Culture.

More info here:

http://apprising.org/2013/01/02/louie-giglio-passion-2013-and-jesus-culture/

http://apprising.org/2013/01/01/jesus-culture-and-judah-smith-to-join-piper-moore-chan-and-others-at-giglios-passion-2013/

http://www.donotbesurprised.com/2012/05/mark-driscoll-promoting-word-faith.html

Further reported: "In his last official message, Piper wanted to convey to the congregation "what the world needs from the church."What it needs, he preached, is "our indomitable, invincible joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow."

Really? I thought the world needed to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is both the bad news (personal & imputed sin, offending the thrice holy God) as well as the Good News (repent, turn to the Jesus of Scripture, trust solely in the Person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of all of one's sins or else face His eternal wrath in eternal punishment).

"God Is Most Glorified.....When?"

Here's an article challenging infamous ex-pastor and constant conference speaker and writer, John Piper's tagline "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisified in Him".

A Creed of Men  

In recent years a new creed has become a mantra within the Christian world. Recently I found this creed quoted on about 100 web sites. The creed, coined by a popular contemporary author who publicly embraces a quirky mix of modern "signs and wonders" and Calvinism, is this: 

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." 

Dr. John Piper, author of Desiring God--Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, wrote this creed (page 50) and now uses it on some of his published material much as one would use a logo or a motto. 

Having a logo or a motto is of no concern. But in recent years many pastors and churches have adopted this expression in much the same way a doctrinal creed is embraced. The problem? This creed is not biblical, it is not scriptural, it is not traditional, in fact, it is not even logical. It is nothing more than a newly invented precept of men. (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7)......

~By C. W. Booth of the Faithful Word

Passion 2013, Piper, and a "Prophetic Mission"

According to my friend Denise, who owns  Discern the Times,

"...looks like Piper preached the same sermon from this year's Passion at WOF church; Jubilee in London at the 300 leader's conference- "300 Leaders: Apostolic Prophetic Mission"- That conference included Acts 29 Network president; (new calvinist) Matt Chandler, John Piper, Tope Koleoso and David Pask, Jack Hayford, Terry Virgo, David Devenish, Bob Roberts and Mike Betts. :http://300leaders.org/videos/piper/

(note that Tope Koleoso will be speaking at Piper's Desiring God Pastoral conference in Feb.http://www.desiringgod.org/events/pastors-conferences/2013 )

End quote.

I also found that well-known blogger Adrian Warnock is an elder at Tope Koleoso's Jubilee church where they offer the anti-biblical Charismatic Alpha Course (more here).

Passion 2013 Conference: more heretics embraced by John Piper

Below is an excerpt from an article by Mark at Defending Contending. You can read the full article here.

Here is the excerpt from Def-Con regarding John Piper at the Passion 2013 Conference:

His endorsements are wrong, and I have not seen one thing that convinces me that he is preaching at Passion 2013 with the intention of bringing biblical clarity to the thousands who are gathered. Actually, he now openly endorses the ungodliness that is in place, holds hands with Beth Moore, and has even been captured on video practicing contemplative mysticism! This certainly does bring him into question and at this time, I believe we are only left with two conclusions. First, his lack of discernment continues to drive him down the road towards full-blown apostasy at the expense of biblical truth. Second, while I am not prepared to question whether he has ever come to a point of saving faith, I am prepared to learn from the words of John MacArthur, who has in the past noted that a person who evidences no change, has no fruit, and continues in full-blown apostasy must be concerned as to whether they were ever saved to begin with.

Sadly, the problem is compounded by the inclusion of heretics like Judah Smith, who co-pastors a church with his wife in Washington. His connection includes preaching at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and Mark Driscoll fully endorsed this event. Yes, this is the same Driscoll and Warren that are so openly welcomed and share pulpits with John Piper. These men all have the same thing in common – they are students of humanist authors like Peter Drucker, who died as a heathen pagan – without Christ.

End quote. (italics and bold, original; red is mine)

2Jn 1:9  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 

Mat 7:15  "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17  "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18  "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20  "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 

As someone once said, foliage is not fruit. It may appear like it, it may show signs of "growth", but foliage isn't fruit. A weed has life and grows but is useless  and in fact harms the plants around it, stealing needed nutrients for its own useless purpose of survival. Be careful when looking at the "past" to find "good fruit" because what is in appearance might actually be anything BUT true fruit.

"Jesus" Culture and Passion Conference 2013

As my friend noted, "It is more important than ever to teach our kids doctrine. It is becoming more apparent that we are in the last days. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons" 1 Timothy 4:1"

"Do you know youth currently attending Atlanta's Passion 2013 conference (Jan 1-4)? Passion leader John Piper wants to introduce youth to the Jesus Culture band (which is part of the signs n'wonders crowd) and Judah Smith (whose wife is an ordained pastor in rebellion to God's word which states that women are not to teach men). Still think it's okay? Check out what the Jesus Culture could be introducing your youth to." ~ Noted Christine Blackerby (Sola Sisters)

For more information on Passion 2013 and its promotion of false teachers and teachings, go to Apprising Ministries.

The Doctrine of Separation

"Today, over fifty years later, we can see the devastating consequences of neo-evangelicalism’s accommodation to the culture. Neo-evangelicalism has thoroughly embraced many worldly philosophies and practices. The recent phenomenon of “post-modern” evangelicalism, which merges neo-paganism with neo-evangelicalism (e.g., the Emergent Church) is an indication of how far this “repudiation of separation” has come. The rapid rise of the Neo-Calvinist movement illustrates the extent to which this "infiltration" will go, as they seek to bridge the divide between church and society, even to the point of Dominionism. The infiltration strategy is also evident in the popular mystical postmodern philosophies of Leonard Sweet, Dallas Willard, Jay Gary, Larry Crabb, Richard Foster and many others. Infiltration as the accepted new status quo in evangelicaldom has rapidly reached into the most remote corners of the Christian world, especially via the neoevangelical mass media."

"It seems quite obvious that a “repudiation of separation” is a clever technique to dislodge the church from its first love. Adopting a strategy of infiltration serves as the first necessary step to break down the church’s ability to function as “salt” and “light” in a dark and lost world."

‎"Biblical separation is much more than the physical act of avoiding or removing oneself from a sinful activity. Believers are also warned in Scripture to separate from ideas. The main entry point for any new heresy is in the realm of ideas and philosophies, concepts and speculations. It is here where people take the bait and begin to embrace something new...

When Dr. Ockenga called for evangelicalism to “engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day” he placed an emphasis on the word “dialogue.” “Dialogue” is the mingling of ideas – a mixing of truth with error – i.e., integration."

The occult practices that the Old Testament warned about are now widely popular in American mainstream culture. Believers should beware of the enticing nature of these beliefs and practices. Many pagan doctrines have been dressed up in new garb. They enter in through alternative medicine, meditative prayer practices, spiritual and physical “disciplines,” art and music, mysticism, imagination, science fiction, astrology, yoga, and many other unusual ways.

‎"These pagan doctrines are also coming in via neoevangelicalism's mainstream, a far more subtle and dangerous method of “infiltration.” Why? Because this comes via respected leaders who count on their stellar reputation to gain entry into your trust....Believers are particularly vulnerable to the seduction of heresy when it comes from esteemed, respected or well-liked Christian leaders."

~ Herescope

Please go to the article to see the entire treatment of this issue and the plethora of Scripture to support the doctrine of separation both in the Old and New Testaments. Its worth the time.